Faceplate



.TJmn 5, 1940. SWEENEY 2,220,133

FACEPLATE Filed Jan. 16, 1959 9768 INVEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS'.

Patented Nov. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES z,zzo,133

FACEPLATE Floyd D. Sweeney, Fresno, Calif.

Application January 16, 1939, Serial No. 251,221

2 Claims;

This invention aims to provide in a fishing lure,

preferably but not necessarily of the form shown in my prior Patent No.1,894,500, granted on January 17, 1933, a faceplate serving to protectthe 5 forward end of the lure from damage by contact with'rocks, snagsand the like, novel means being supplied for retaining the faceplate onthe body of the lure, and the faceplate being so constructed that it canbe adjusted readily to regulate the 1" depth of travel of the lure,below the'surface of the water.

Fig. l is a side elevation, Fig. 2 an end elevation, and Fig. 3alongitudinal section wherein parts are broken away.

In carrying out theinvention, there is provided a body I, which is madeof any buoyant material, such as wood, cork or the like. The body I issupplied with pivotally mounted hooks 2, disposed as occasion mayrequire. The body 1 has a for-' m ward end surface 3, located about atright'angles to the general direction of travel of the lure.

To the forward end surface 3 of the body of the lure is applied a faceplate 4, made of copper or any composition which will be bendable, butstill so have such strength that it can be bent by an operator, but notby the water through which the lure passes. The upper portion of theface plate 4 is supplied with a rearwardly extended flange 5, flttingclosely about the forward end 25 of the body I and extended downwardlyalong the sides of the body, about half way, as clearly shown in Fig. 1of the drawing.

On the forward end of the body I is mounted a line fastener, comprisingoutwardly projecting o loops 6 and 1, connected by an intermediate loop8. The loop I has a threaded end 9, and the loop 6 has a flattened footIII, with a hole in it, the foot being disposed at an angle to thethreaded end i. The end 9' of the loop 1 is threaded 86 through thefaceplate 4, into the body I. until the inwardly projecting loop 8 andthe flattened foot I bear against the faceplate 4, and, then, a securingelement H, such as a screw, is passed through the foot and the faceplate4, and into the 40 body I, to hold the line fastener and the faceplatein place.

It has been stated hereinbefcre that the faceplate 4 is fashioned frombendable material, the

lower end of the faceplate terminating in a downwardly extended andforwardly inclinedtongue l2, arranged at an acute angle to the forwardend surface 3 of the body l.

Owing to the provision of the tongue l2, disposed as stated with respectto the end surface 3 of the body I, the lure, when advanced, will travelbelow the surface of the water, and the distance between the lure andthe surfaceof the water may be regulated, by bending the tongue I2 10 sothat it assumes different angles relatively to the forward end surface 3of the body I.

The faceplate 4 gives stability to the lure and a more satisfactoryoperation, due to the provision of the adjustable tongue l2. The flange5, partially surrounding the body I facilitates assembly, the cost ofproduction being reduced. The faceplate 4, moreover, serves as aprotection for the forward end of the body I and prevents damage to thelure, due to butting into rocks or other obstructions. 15

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A fishing lure comprising a body having a forward end surface, afaceplate, and means for securing the upperportion of the faceplate tothe forward end surface of the body, the faceplate being supplied at itslower end with a downwardly ext'ended tongue spaced from the forward endsurface of the body, to define an angle with .respect to the forward endsurface of the body, the faceplate before being providedat its upper endwith a rearwardly extended U-shaped flange receiving the forward portionof the body and terminating at places spaced from the upper extremity ofthe tongue, thereby leaving the tongue free for bendable adjustment, tovary said angle.

2. A faceplate for the forward end of a fishing lure, made of bendablemetal, whereby an operator may fashion the lower end of the plate into atongue, capable of assuming stable but adjusted angles with respect tothe forward end surface of a lure, the upper portion of the plate havinga U-shaped, rearwardly extended, lurereceiving flange, terminating shortof the tongue, to permit the tongue to assume adjusted angles,

as aforesaid.

FLOYDD. SWEENEY.

